Spathiphyllum plant named ‘98216-59’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Spathiphyllum  plant named ‘98216-59’ that is characterized by vertical white spathes, dark green leaves and a medium spathe size.

Botanical classification: Spathiphyllum Schott.

Variety denomination: ‘98216-59’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofSpathiphyllum plant botanically known as Spathiphyllum Schott. andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘98216-59’.

‘98216-59’ is a hybrid that originated from the hybridization of thefemale or seed parent a proprietary Spathiphyllum Schott. identified as98338-63 (not patented) and the male or pollen parent a proprietarySpathiphyllum Schott. identified as 96361-5 (not patented). The cultivar‘98216-59’ was selected by the inventor in February of 1999 as a singleplant within the progeny of the stated cross in Honselersdijk, TheNetherlands.

Asexual reproduction by tissue culture of the new cultivar ‘98216-59’was first performed in February of 2001 in Honselersdijk, TheNetherlands. Since that time, under careful observation, the uniquecharacteristics of the new cultivar have been uniform, stable andreproduced true to type in successive generations of asexualreproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following represent the distinguishing characteristics of the newSpathiphyllum cultivar ‘98216-59’.

-   -   1. Spathiphyllum ‘98216-59’ exhibits white spathes.    -   2. Spathiphyllum ‘98216-59’ exhibits dark green leaves.    -   3. Spathiphyllum ‘98216-59’ exhibits a medium spathe size.    -   4. Spathiphyllum ‘98216-59’ exhibits vertical spathes.

The closest comparison cultivar is Spathiphyllum ‘Sweet Pablo’ (U.S.plant Pat. No. PP10,817). The new cultivar ‘98216-59’ is distinguishablefrom ‘Sweet Pablo’ by the following characteristics:

-   -   1. ‘98216-59’ has narrower leaves than those of ‘Sweet Pablo’.    -   2. ‘98216-59’ has darker green leaves than those of ‘Sweet        Pablo’.

The new cultivar ‘98216-59’ is distinguishable from the male parentSpathiphyllum ‘96361-5’ in having more vertical spathes and narrowerleaves. The new cultivar ‘98216-59’ is distinguishable from the femaleparent Spathiphyllum ‘98338-63’ in having more vertical spheres.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photograph illustrates the distinguishing traits ofSpathiphyllum ‘98216-59’. The plant in the photograph shows an overallview of a 29 week old plant. The photograph was taken using conventionaltechniques and although colors may appear different from actual colorsdue to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventionalphotographic techniques.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of the new Spathiphyllumcultivar named ‘98216-59’. Data was collected in Honselersdijk, TheNetherlands from 29 week old greenhouse grown plants in 2 litercontainers. The time of year was Spring and the average temperature was22 degrees Centigrade during the day and 20 degrees Centigrade at night.No photoperiodic treatments were used. 150 PPM of Gibberallic acid wasapplied for flower initiation. Color determinations are in accordancewith The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2001 edition, exceptwhere general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.The growing requirements are similar to the species. ‘98216-59’ has notbeen tested under all possible conditions and phenotypic differences maybe observed with variations in environmental, climatic, and culturalconditions, however, without any variance in genotype.

-   Botanical classification: Spathiphyllum Schott. ‘98216-59’.-   Use: Ornamental.    -   -   Parentage: ‘98216-59’ is a hybrid plant that resulted from            the hybridization of the following parent plants:        -   Female parent.—A proprietary Spathiphyllum Schott.            identified as ‘98338-63’.        -   Male parent.—A proprietary Spathiphyllum Schott. identified            as ‘96361-5’.-   Vigor: Moderate.-   Growth rate: Moderate.-   Growth habit: Moderately branching from base, bushy and dense.-   Plant shape: Inverted triangle with inflorescences on top.-   Suitable container size: 2 Liter container.-   Height: Average 54 cm to top of leaf plane, 78.5 cm to top of    inflorescences.-   Width: Average 66 cm in width.-   Hardiness: USDA Zone 10.-   Propagation: Tissue Culture.-   Time to initiate roots (summer and winter): Approximately 14 days to    produce roots on an initial cutting.-   Time to produce a rooted cutting or liner (summer and winter):    Approximately 38 days.-   Root system: Fine and fibrous.-   Stem: No stems, Leaves grow directly from base, Average 8 clumps,    clump color 144A.-   Foliage:    -   -   Texture.—Smooth, slightly leathery.        -   Appearance.—Glossy.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Compound or single.—Single.        -   Leaf shape.—Elliptic.        -   Leaf apex.—Apiculate.        -   Leaf base.—Attenuate.        -   Leaf length.—Average 29 cm in length.        -   Leaf width.—12.5 cm in width.        -   Quantity of leaves per clump.—Average 6.        -   Pubescence.—Absent.        -   Leaf margin.—Entire, slightly wavy.        -   Vein pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Young leaf color (upper surface).—141A to 143A.        -   Young leaf color (lower surface).—137C to 137D to 138B.        -   Mature leaf color (upper surface).—139A.        -   Mature leaf color (lower surface).—137B.        -   Vein color (lower surface).—144A to 144B.        -   Vein color (upper surface).—141A.        -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Petiole dimensions.—Average 26.1 cm in length excluding            geniculum, 3.5 mm in diameter below geniculum to 6 mm in            diameter above clump.        -   Petiole aspect.—Round.        -   Petiole color.—144A to 144B, darker towards the top 137A to            141A.        -   Geniculum dimensions.—Average 3.9 cm in length and 4.5 mm in            diameter.        -   Geniculum aspect.—Rounded, glossy, glabrous.        -   Geniculum color.—143B to 143C.        -   Petiole sheath dimensions.—Average 19.3 cm in length and 6            mm in diameter.        -   Petiole sheath color.—144A.        -   Durability of foliage to stress.—High.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Inflorescence arrangement.—Spathes with spadices held above            the foliage on erect peduncles arising from the petiole            sheath.        -   Flowering habit.—Continuous.        -   Quantity of spathes per plant.—Average 4.        -   Natural flowering season.—Autumn to winter to spring.        -   Time to flower or response time.—26 weeks.        -   Fragrance.—Moderate to strong, sweet.        -   Self-cleaning or persistent.—Persistent.        -   Flower longevity.—Lasts approximately 3 weeks on plant.        -   Spathe aspect.—Slightly cupped.        -   Spathe dimensions.—Average 19.8 cm in length, 9 cm in width            and 5.7 cm in depth.        -   Spathe texture.—Glabrous, slightly leathery.        -   Spathe shape.—Elliptic.        -   Spathe margin.—Entire.        -   Spathe apex.—Apiculate.        -   Spathe base.—Cuneate.        -   Spathe color when opening (front side).—155C, apex 143B to            143C.        -   Spathe color when opening (rear side).—155C, apex 143B to            143C.        -   Spathe color when fully opened (front side).—155C, apex 143B            to 143C.        -   Spathe color when fully opened (rear side).—155C, apex 143B            to 143C.        -   Spathe color fading to.—Not fading.        -   Spadix shape.—Columnar, arising from top of peduncle.        -   Spadix tip.—Obtuse.        -   Spadix base.—Obtuse.        -   Spadix dimensions.—Average 5.9 cm in length and 1.6 mm in            diameter.        -   Spadix color when opening.—158A to 158B.        -   Spadix color when fully opened.—158B.        -   Quantity of flowers per spadix.—Average 140.        -   Spadix flower arrangement.—Bisexual, rounded.        -   Spadix flower dimensions.—3.5 mm in diameter and 3 mm in            depth. Reproductive organs:        -   Anther color.—158D.        -   Amount of pollen.—Moderate.        -   Pollen color.—158D.        -   Stigma color.—158B.        -   Ovary color.—158B.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Peduncle dimensions.—Average 59.4 cm in length and 6.0 mm.            in diameter.        -   Peduncle angle.—5 degrees from vertical.        -   Peduncle color.—137D.        -   Peduncle strength.—Strong.-   Seed: Seed production has not been observed.-   Disease and insect resistance: Plants of the new Spathiphyllum have    not been observed for disease or insect resistance.

1. A new and distinct variety of Spathiphyllum plant named ‘98216-59’ asdescribed and illustrated.